Daddy in Disguise (Crescent Cove 7)

I laughed. “True.”

“No, take a look that way.” He angled me to the left. In the distance was my house—well, not my house exactly, but the one I allowed myself to dream about—and it was freaking glowing. Hundreds of pumpkins were flickering with flames.

“Marry me. Make a home with me. Make a life with me.”

I turned to him, and he was down on his knee with a ring. “Oh my God.”

“That’s not an answer.”

I leaped into his arms, knocking him on his ass. “Yes. Yes! This is crazy.” I looked at him, then at the house with its wraparound porch and land. With the space for a family.

“I know it. But I didn’t want to wait anymore. I’m all in, Mace. No matter what.”

“I want babies with you,” I blurted out. I straddled him and gripped his shirt. “Your babies.”

“What?” He fell back in the leaves.

I caged him in. “Yes, I’m willing to, you know, go for it. A Halloween baby seems my kinda thing, don’t you think?”

“I didn’t ask for that. I wouldn’t.” He cupped my face, the ring stuck on the first knuckle of his forefinger.

“I know you wouldn’t. But I want your kid. If you want one. I mean, you need to be a willing—”

He covered my mouth with his, the kiss wild and passionate and so very us. Then he sat up and pulled me tighter into him. “I do.” He kissed me again before pressing his forehead to mine. “I want a family with you so badly, but I swear it would be enough to have a life with just you and Dani.”

That was why I wanted it most of all. Because he’d never ask it of me. I could give it to him freely.

I held out my hand and when he slid the ring down, it fit perfectly. It was too dark to see exactly what he’d gotten me, but I already knew I would love it. I brushed my thumbs through his beard along the hollows of his cheeks. In the limited light, I was pretty sure Gideon’s eyes were shining just like mine.

He hugged me close. “Can we go look at the house now? My ass is frozen.”

“I can’t believe you got me a freaking house.”

“Well, I don’t have it yet. But I’m working on it. I wouldn’t make such a large decision without you.” He dragged me up with him.

“Good answer, but it was probably just in case I said no.”

“I knew you’d say yes.”

I poked him in the ribs.

He hooked his arm around my shoulders. “Eventually.”

I peered up at him in the low light. “Since you’re gonna be my husband, does this mean I get a reduction on my bill? Maybe a deal on future renovations?”

“Macy Devereaux, do you think I’m that cheap?”

“How about bat carvings for blowjobs?”

He scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder. I hung down and slapped his ass. “Upgrade on siding for butt stuff?”

“I think we can figure something out.”

Epilogue

A couple weeks before Christmas

Whomever had decided childbirth was beautiful deserved a kick in the rear with steel-toed boots.